'Very worried': Model Jasmine Lennard had the operation when she was 18

Model Jasmine Lennard has revealed how she underwent an emergency operation to replace her breast implants after discovering they contained banned silicone.

The 26-year-old admits that she became ‘hysterical’ after discovering her implants came from French firm PIP, which is at the centre of a global health scare for using industrial-grade materials deemed unfit for medical use. And she believes last week’s procedure could have ‘saved my life’.

Miss Lennard, who once dated Simon Cowell, was just 18 when she paid £5,000 for an operation to take her from a 32AA to a 32B. She said: ‘It was something I always wanted to have done. My parents were totally supportive and helped me find a surgeon.

‘I was put it touch with Dr Maurizio Viel, who runs the London Centre of Aesthetic Surgery. He couldn’t have been more helpful. He was not pushy and was very honest, advising me not to go too big because I am very slight.

‘He showed me the PIP implants and said, “These are the safest on the market.” He sliced one open to show me it didn’t leak. I don’t think he had any reason to think they weren’t safe and I don’t blame them in any way.’

But she says she later began to feel ‘rippling’ sensations in the implants and pains under her arms, and sought medical advice after the birth of her son, Phoenix, in August 2010.

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She said: ‘I checked if it was safe to breastfeed and I was assured it was. But it was very painful.

‘The surgeon couldn’t find anything wrong but the only way to tell if the implant had split was with a mammogram which would cost £400. As the problem was classed as cosmetic, I would be very low down the NHS list.’

Six months ago the clinic sent out a letter warning the implants could be prone to tearing, but Miss Lennard thought no more about it until seeing a news report last month about French authorities urging women to get PIP implants removed after a spate of ruptures. They were also linked to the death of a woman from an extremely rare cancer – although every type of implant increases this risk.

Hysterical: Miss Lennard with the PIP implants she had removed

Miss Lennard said: ‘I called the clinic straight away. I don’t mind admitting I was hysterical. I was very worried and wanted them out as soon as possible.’

She had the implants replaced on Wednesday. ‘The briefing this time was very different from the first time,’ she says. ‘The surgeon said “Right now these are the safest around. But you have to be aware that, just like PIP, a problem could come along in ten years’ time that we don’t know about now.”

‘He said they felt as deceived as I did. I don’t blame the clinic and I was grateful for all the support they gave. They have saved my life. It’s terrifying knowing you have something in your body that could kill you.

‘They suggested a complete removal but that would mean I wouldn’t be able to work as a model.

‘The skin would hang where the implant had been. So that wasn’t an option. But I would urge anyone considering surgery to understand the dangers.’